This video is a sequel of our earlier video on the US sanctions policy towards the International Criminal Court. In the current video we discuss the designation of the Court itself as a Specially Designated Person or an SDN by the US. This designation was announced on 9 October 2026 and results in the application of the US blocking sanctions to the Court (subject to general licenses).
This is a truly unprecedented step putting at risk the functioning of an international organisation which purpose is to fight the most heinous crimes and which mission is supported by the majority of the states in the world which are parties to its Statute.
It is a precedent which, yet another time, should give us a pose to reflect on the similarly between the use of blocking sanctions and the use of force and their legality under international law.
Thank you for watching!